Hospitality Part 3--When We Do It

This post focuses on the main reason most of us do not extend the gift of hospitality: time. When do we have time to be hospitable? Most of us don't have time for one more thing on our "to do" list. We don't need one more plate to spin or one more ball to juggle. The thought of opening our hearts and homes causes more anxiety when we are already stressed to the max.

About four years ago I happened upon a little book at our local book fair. The title gripped me and the price was right, so I brought it home with me. I quickly realized this book was written for me. "The Too-Busy Book: Slowing Down to Catch Up With Life" by Linda Anderson gave me permission to say no to the good things in life and yes to the best. I had been chasing after so many things that seemed "good," but I was missing out on what God's BEST was for me. I was running from one church meeting to the next, trying to find a place to belong. I misses so many nights of bedtime prayers and good night kisses with my three young sons. I'd pull into my neighborhood and feel utterly exhausted, then see all of my neighbor's homes and the guilt would consume me. I thought, "How are we ever going to reach the lost if we're always in church meetings? How do I find time to spend with neighbors, friends and family when I have a full schedule of meetings?" I knew that something had to give.

I read "The Too-Busy Book" and I dug into THE Book for more revelation. Linda wrote, "God is not in a hurry. So why are we...all the time? If we were created in his image, why are we so determined to move at a pace faster than his? It's time to step on the brakes, slow down and begin living the unhurried life God wants for us." Chapters in the book include "Uneasily Yoked," "Finding Your Sabbath," "On Doing and Being," "Dying to Busyness," "Traveling Lightly," "Reroute and Recover," "Saying No," "On Adding," "On Subtracting," "Retreat," "Choosing to Play," and "Seizing the Day." Those titles make me feel lighter, they make me feel released to find the best God has for me and to turn from the burdens placed on me by the world. I encourage everyone I know to pick up this book and read it often! I try to reread it every year so that I can remind myself of what matters most.

"Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40

These verses are the foundation for our lives. Jesus said the most important thing in life is loving God. After that, we are called to love others. This is the most basic outline of Christianity. This is what I want our family to grasp and to live out, each and every day. This is where our life motto, "First Things First," comes from. We are called to love Him and love others. Everything else in life serves that purpose or distracts from it. If we don't have time for relationships, we are missing out on His best. Each day we are given twenty four hours, are we ready to trade busyness for tranquility, stress for peace? The choice is ours to make.

Our home has an open door policy. Friends, family, customers, and neighbors stop by any time. Some call before they drop in, others just show up on our doorstep. We make an effort to be out in our yard as often as possible, interacting with our neighbors. We have someone into our home about once a week for a meal or just to sit and visit. Monthly, I open the doors to my friends who scrap book. For almost ten years, I've been hosting these crops and the ladies look forward to that time away to fellowship, work on their albums and step away from the busyness in life. We invite our Fresh Air Child to come and spend time with us each summer. Our out of town friends know that we have a place for them anytime they want to visit. Local friends stop by to sit on a cozy couch and just "be." The boys' friends know that they are welcome to hang out here and as they get older, I hope that our home will be a hub where many more young people feel comfortable being. Hospitality is a lifestyle for us. It's part of who we are. Our desire is that people will be able to stop by in the storms of life and find a haven. We don't just set aside certain days to be hospitable, we keep our hearts and home available so, in a moment's notice, we can reach out and embrace one He's sent our way.

When should we offer our hearts and our home to others? Every single day. Each passing day, we see needs and we hear cries. Will we walk by those who need us or will we extend the love of Jesus to them?